A Place Unlike Any Other Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was satisfied with the grading system.

On-site administration of your program

Yediteppe was a beautiful and great campus. The people were friendly and there were places to study and things to do. Even though it was a ways from the main part of the city, it didn't bother us. It kept students out of trouble and going out so much at night as well.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

One thing for future students is to definitely buy a grill, and take a trip to the store to buy some snack foods to take with them when they travel the city for class. We spent alot of money eating out, Turkish food is amazing, and there are simple easy things to make on a grill. That and the dorms had refridgerators which was nice, so students could keep some cheese and things in it for at least two days.

Eat and try anything and everything. The fruit, the fish sandwiches from the rocking boats by the bridge, the slushies, the seafood, the doner, lamb, nuts, orange juice, dondurma which is similar to ice cream, everything you'll eat will be good. There is an authentic Ottoman cuisine restaurant near Chora Church. Be warned it is extremely expensive. Toast on the ferries is cheap and convenient because it's delivered, and if you buy a grill even easier and cheaper to make in your dorms. Pidas are similar to pizza but a little different, still tasty and can be split between two people. Always drink tea. Visit the Tea Garden if you can find it. It's a neat spot behind a graveyard. Say hi to Kerchak and play with the kittens, and buy some souvenirs from him. Istanbul has the best food on the planet, and noone will be disappointed.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Efez One Love festival is a cool music festival students can check out. Hagia Irene is the last church with an iconic church from the Byzantine empire that wasn't covered up. The only way to see it is to purchase a ticket to a concert. Be sure to bring a nice outfit if its an opera or something else formal. Visit every single museum, especially the Islamic and Turkish Art and Archaeological Museum. Hagia Sophia, and all the mosque are free so be sure to step in and check out the architecture and tile work. Be sure you have a little bit of money to donate too, it's not required but it is considered polite, even if it's small. Be sure to cool off on a hot day in the Basillica Cistern. Check out Taksim for shopping as well as night life, try not to drink too much Raki, this is an extremely potent drink and I'd guess the actual alcohol in it is above 60%. Be sure to try out haggling in the bazaars. And consider that a few students go in on kilos of things like Turkish delight, and the spices, dried fruits and nuts, and the tea. A kilo is almost two pounds, and thats a good way to save money and bring back nice gifts for friends and family. Turkish olive oil is good, and so is the honey. And keep your ticket stubs to major monuments and every handout, and free brochure you are able to find. You'll have some cool memphorabilia, all my friends kept the ticket stubs and one even put hers in this little flip flap book. Just enjoy the history and beauty of Istanbul.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Do not wear too short of shorts. I know some women now adays like to wear shorter things, and I would not recommend that in Turkey unless you go to the beach. Turkish men do like to flirt, and some of them get a little too frisky from time to time. Be sure to not go through with anything you're uncomfortable with if you're advanced on. Do the matrix if you got to if one tries to make out with you because you hugged them. They take body language from foreigners to mean different things, but they'll be able to tell if you're not ok with certain things as well. Just be careful when dealing with shop owners in the bazaars. And Ladies should always try to be with a guy at night. Just because. Other than that, have fun, and get to know people.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Americans

• Courses offered and the fact my professor taught them
• The culture and the Turkish people
• The location

• transportation (from Yediteppe in our case)
• discussing unplanned language lessons ahead of time